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Forgetting him was the best option for both of us. Our night of passion didn’t matter if we were going to return to living like strangers anyway.
Why did I think things would suddenly be different between us only because we had sex?
The next morning, I went for a run early to clear my head, and as I jogged down my usual path, a familiar car drove past me with speed the first time, then slowed down in front of me and reversed back with speed.
I froze in my tracks, suddenly remembering the night with Tommy when we almost got hit. My pulse skyrocketed at that moment, and the searing hand of terror that gripped my insides squeezed tight till I couldn’t breathe.
The car screeched to a halt in front of me, and the smell from its exhaust fluttered in the air then, he zoomed off again and drove off into the distance.
I remained rooted to one spot because my knees were too weak to move.What’s going on?
I was shivering now, and unable to catch my breath. My arms came around my body, and I spun around, then ran the rest of the distance back home. When I burst into the house, Tommy was coming out of the kitchen.
I ran straight to him and put my hands on his shoulder first before stepping back again. “I think I saw our hit-and-run driver. I was running outside just now, and he drove past me then he sped back again like he was gonna hit me, then he drove off again and ….”
“Slow down,” he said and put both hands on my shoulders. “Slow down, Leah so I can understand what you’re saying.”
I panted and tried to catch my breath, but my muscles were too tight. The panic building in my chest made me break free from him and place a hand on my chest. Tommy came closer before pulling me into a hug. The heat from his body seeped into me and diluted the terrifying strokes inside me.
It took a moment for me to find my balance again, and he slowly moved away from me before I hugged myself tight again. Nausea rose to the surface, and I knew I would get sick soon.
“Come have some coffee, then tell me what happened in detail.”
I went into the kitchen with him but didn’t get to sit down before my phone rang.
“Hello?”
“I know what you did,” the voice on the other end said before the line went off again. The knots in my belly now tightened till I felt pain. I managed to sit before my knees gave way, and I lifted my shaky gaze to his.
“I think someone’s stalking me,” I said then blew air out of my lips. “I … I don’t know, but it’s like I’m the one who they’re trying to kill.”
“I don’t understand.” He sat down and pulled his chair closer to mine. Tommy peered right at me, and it felt like I could confide in him for a second. His eyes seemed so kind, and his gaze stayed on mine for a long time.
“Tell me what’s going on.” He took my hands, and his warm touch melted me.
The look in his eyes was that of concern, but what would he think once he found out what I had done?Who I truly was?
I couldn’t risk Tommy knowing the truth, so I dragged in a deep breath and closed my eyes. “My ex …” I whispered in a shaky voice, then cleared my throat and tried to find a grip. “I uh … We broke up, but he wasn’t ready to move on and so things got messy. I think he’s trying to find me.”
“Your ex?” he queried his grip on my hand slackened a little.
“Trevor Butcher,” I answered. “I’ve got a restraining order on him, so I don’t think he’ll break that to come close to me but …”
“You don’t know how crazy men can get,” Tommy said as he rose to his feet and immediately started pacing around the kitchen. “Has he tried to hurt you before? Has he …”
“It’s nothing of the sort. He didn’t try to hurt me, he never did … We just …” I broke, searching my mind for the right words to tell him that I ended things with Trevor because he was bad for me. I don’t want to talk about this right now, Tommy.”
I rose to my feet and began pacing around the kitchen. “I told you, things got messy, and we broke up.”
“I need to know how messy you mean before I know what to do to help you,” he said then faced me. “You know I run a security firm. I’m going to protect you, but I need you to be honest with me, and …”
“This feels like an interrogation,” I cut in before he could say more. “Why do you need to question me? I told you everything I know.”
“You are being defensive for no reason,” he countered. “I’m just trying to help you, Leah, and I …”
“I don’t need your help,” I cut in and raised my hands in the air. “I don’t need you to save me … I just need … I don’t need …”
I didn’t know what else to say, and stammering was not helping, so I just huffed, picked my phone from the table, and stormed out of the kitchen. Tommy didn’t follow, but only seconds after I got into the room, I couldn’t get my nerves to relax, so I hurried out again and went to the kitchen.
